Low Back PainNCT07474610
The Relationship Between Transversus Abdominis Muscle Architecture and Upper Extremity Function in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain
An observational study of Low Back Pain and Functional Reach, run by Ilayda Dilan Isik at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Core stability is the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk for optimal production, transfer, and control of forces in the upper and lower extremities during functional activities. Studies have shown that TrA activation is delayed in individuals with low back pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Low Back Pain, Functional Reach, Scapular Dyskinesis
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 31 Aug 2027
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Day
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: The study will include individuals aged 18-45 with and without low back pain. Individuals with low back pain will be included only if they have received a diagnosis of "Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain" from a physician. The control group will consist of healthy individuals.
Who may be able to join
- Being between 18-45 years of age.
- Having a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) (18.5 - 29.9 kg/m²).
- For the painful group, having pain for a minimum of 3 months and a minimum of 3/10 pain at rest or during activity. • Not having received medical treatment for back or shoulder pain in the last 12 months for healthy control examinations.
Who cannot join
- Having neurological diseases.
- Having a diagnosed pathology and/or severe pain in the upper extremity.
- Being a professional athlete.
- Being pregnant.
- Having advanced structural spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.).
- Having undergone abdominal surgery (Cesarean section is not included).
- Having undergone spinal and/or lumbar surgery.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
GYM Center
Ankara
İlayda Dilan Işık, MsC, +905305239711, ilayda_dilan06@hotmail.com
About this study
Official title: The Relationship Between Transversus Abdominis Muscle Architecture and Upper Extremity Function in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Comparative Ultrasonographic Study
Core stability is the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk for optimal production, transfer, and control of forces in the upper and lower extremities during functional activities.
Studies have shown that TrA activation is delayed in individuals with low back pain. The relationship between core stability and the lower extremity has been frequently studied in the literature, and according to Kibler's 'Kinetic Chain' theory, loss of proximal stability is known to lead to dysfunction in distal segments; however, the relationship between the upper extremity and core stability is still unclear. The aim of our study is to investigate the upper extremity reach capacity and scapular stability of individuals with low back pain in relation to TrA involvement and to compare them with healthy individuals without low back pain.
Read the detailed description
Core stability is the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk for optimal production, transfer, and control of forces in the upper and lower extremities during functional activities. The most important components of core stability are muscle capacity and neuromuscular control. A stable core region is effective in facilitating extremity function.
Studies have shown that TrA activation is delayed in individuals with low back pain. The relationship between core stability and the lower extremity has been frequently studied in the literature, and according to Kibler's 'Kinetic Chain' theory, loss of proximal stability is known to lead to dysfunction in distal segments; however, the relationship between the upper extremity and core stability is still unclear. In light of all this data, the aim of our study is to investigate the upper extremity reach capacity and scapular stability of individuals with low back pain in relation to TrA involvement and to compare them with healthy individuals without low back pain.
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain, Functional Reach, Scapular Dyskinesis, Core Muscles, Ultrasound
- Keywords
- low back pain, functional reach, scapular dyskinesis, core, ultrasound
- Medical subject headings
- Low Back Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Low Back Pain | It consists of people who have back pain. | |
| Control Group | Healthy people without back pain |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Severity of back pain
Resting, activity, and nocturnal pains will be marked on a visual analog scale.
Measured: It will only be evaluated once.
Ultrasound
Measurements taken from the TrA muscle will first involve measuring the length of the cross-section in the resting position, then taking another measurement during the maneuver, and recording the differences between these measurements.
Measured: It will only be evaluated once.
Funcitonal Reach Test
During the measurement, the patient lies on their side against the wall (leaving a small enough distance between themselves and the wall to avoid contact). Their feet are shoulder-width apart and fixed. The patient raises the arm closest to the wall to 90 degrees of shoulder flexion (straight forward). Make a fist. While the patient's arm is at 90 degrees, the point where the head of the 3rd metacarpal (middle finger joint) aligns with the measuring tape on the wall is recorded. The patient is then asked to reach forward as far as they can without lifting their feet off the ground or taking a step. At the furthest point the patient can reach without losing their balance, the alignment of the 3rd metacarpal head is again recorded. The distance between these points is taken as the final measurement. During the measurement, it is crucial that the heels do not lift off the ground, that no steps are taken, that no support is placed against the wall, and that the arm does not drop.
Measured: It will only be evaluated once.
Kibler's Lateral Scapular Slide Test
Measurements were taken using a measuring tape to gauge the distance between the spinous processes of the spine and the inferior angulus of the scapula, and repeated in three different positions: arms free at the sides, hands on the hips (approximately 45 degrees abduction), and arms outstretched to the sides (90 degrees abduction and maximum internal rotation). Under normal conditions, the distance between these positions does not vary significantly or changes symmetrically. If the difference between the two sides is more than 1.5 cm or if there is excessive variation between positions, the diagnosis will be considered "Scapular Dyskinesia Present (+)".
Measured: It will only be evaluated once.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Low Back PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Other
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 1 Day
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ilayda Dilan Isik
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ilayda Dilan Isik, Istanbul Saglik Bilimleri University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07474610
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AnkaraSBU3
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: We are not sure because the data does not contain personal information and may be useful in other studies.
Publications
Cacolice PA, Carcia CR, Scibek JS. Shoulder Flexion Torque Is Augmented by a Volitional Abdominal Isometric Contraction. J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Apr 1;35(4):920-923. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003277.
PubMed 31490428Roche SJ, Funk L, Sciascia A, Kibler WB. Scapular dyskinesis: the surgeon's perspective. Shoulder Elbow. 2015 Oct;7(4):289-97. doi: 10.1177/1758573215595949. Epub 2015 Jul 16.
PubMed 27582990
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Relationship Between Transversus Abdominis Muscle Architecture and Upper Extremity Function in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Comparative Ultrasonographic Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07474610
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AnkaraSBU3
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain, Functional Reach, Scapular Dyskinesis, Core Muscles, Ultrasound
- Keywords
- low back pain, functional reach, scapular dyskinesis, core, ultrasound
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ilayda Dilan IsikUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Core stability is the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk for optimal production, transfer, and control of forces in the upper and lower extremities during functional activities.
Studies have shown that TrA activation is delayed in individuals with low back pain. The relationship between core stability and the lower extremity has been frequently studied in the literature, and according to Kibler's 'Kinetic Chain' theory, loss of proximal stability is known to lead to dysfunction in distal segments; however, the relationship between the upper extremity and core stability is still unclear. The aim of our study is to investigate the upper extremity reach capacity and scapular stability of individuals with low back pain in relation to TrA involvement and to compare them with healthy individuals without low back pain.
Detailed description
Core stability is the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk for optimal production, transfer, and control of forces in the upper and lower extremities during functional activities. The most important components of core stability are muscle capacity and neuromuscular control. A stable core region is effective in facilitating extremity function.
Studies have shown that TrA activation is delayed in individuals with low back pain. The relationship between core stability and the lower extremity has been frequently studied in the literature, and according to Kibler's 'Kinetic Chain' theory, loss of proximal stability is known to lead to dysfunction in distal segments; however, the relationship between the upper extremity and core stability is still unclear. In light of all this data, the aim of our study is to investigate the upper extremity reach capacity and scapular stability of individuals with low back pain in relation to TrA involvement and to compare them with healthy individuals without low back pain.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Other
- Target follow-up
- 1 Day
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Low Back Pain | – | –It consists of people who have back pain. |
| Control Group | – | –Healthy people without back pain |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- The study will include individuals aged 18-45 with and without low back pain. Individuals with low back pain will be included only if they have received a diagnosis of "Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain" from a physician. The control group will consist of healthy individuals.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Being between 18-45 years of age.
- Having a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) (18.5 - 29.9 kg/m²).
- For the painful group, having pain for a minimum of 3 months and a minimum of 3/10 pain at rest or during activity. • Not having received medical treatment for back or shoulder pain in the last 12 months for healthy control examinations.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Having neurological diseases.
- Having a diagnosed pathology and/or severe pain in the upper extremity.
- Being a professional athlete.
- Being pregnant.
- Having advanced structural spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Severity of back pain
Time frame: It will only be evaluated once.
Resting, activity, and nocturnal pains will be marked on a visual analog scale.
Ultrasound
Time frame: It will only be evaluated once.
Measurements taken from the TrA muscle will first involve measuring the length of the cross-section in the resting position, then taking another measurement during the maneuver, and recording the differences between these measurements.
Funcitonal Reach Test
Time frame: It will only be evaluated once.
During the measurement, the patient lies on their side against the wall (leaving a small enough distance between themselves and the wall to avoid contact). Their feet are shoulder-width apart and fixed. The patient raises the arm closest to the wall to 90 degrees of shoulder flexion (straight forward). Make a fist. While the patient's arm is at 90 degrees, the point where the head of the 3rd metacarpal (middle finger joint) aligns with the measuring tape on the wall is recorded. The patient is then asked to reach forward as far as they can without lifting their feet off the ground or taking a step. At the furthest point the patient can reach without losing their balance, the alignment of the 3rd metacarpal head is again recorded. The distance between these points is taken as the final measurement. During the measurement, it is crucial that the heels do not lift off the ground, that no steps are taken, that no support is placed against the wall, and that the arm does not drop.
Kibler's Lateral Scapular Slide Test
Time frame: It will only be evaluated once.
Measurements were taken using a measuring tape to gauge the distance between the spinous processes of the spine and the inferior angulus of the scapula, and repeated in three different positions: arms free at the sides, hands on the hips (approximately 45 degrees abduction), and arms outstretched to the sides (90 degrees abduction and maximum internal rotation). Under normal conditions, the distance between these positions does not vary significantly or changes symmetrically. If the difference between the two sides is more than 1.5 cm or if there is excessive variation between positions, the diagnosis will be considered "Scapular Dyskinesia Present (+)".
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 31490428Cacolice PA, Carcia CR, Scibek JS. Shoulder Flexion Torque Is Augmented by a Volitional Abdominal Isometric Contraction. J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Apr 1;35(4):920-923. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003277.
- Background: PubMed 27582990Roche SJ, Funk L, Sciascia A, Kibler WB. Scapular dyskinesis: the surgeon's perspective. Shoulder Elbow. 2015 Oct;7(4):289-97. doi: 10.1177/1758573215595949. Epub 2015 Jul 16.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. We are not sure because the data does not contain personal information and may be useful in other studies.
Related trials for Low Back Pain
Recruiting
SENECA - Smart Therapies for Chronic Pain
Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)
RecruitingPhase 2
A Chronic Pain Master Protocol (CPMP): A Study of LY4065967 in Participants With Chronic Low Back Pain
Chronic Pain, Low Back Pain
Not yet recruiting
Comparison of Two Patient Education Methods in Women With Chronic Low Back Pain: Online Pain Education vs. AI-Driven Patient Education on Pain Beliefs, Catastrophizing, and Self-Efficacy
Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)
Not yet recruiting
Evaluation of a Program to Prevent Recurrences of Episodes of Acute Low Back Pain, Assisted by the Axomove Application
Low Back Pain
Enrolling by invitation
The Influence of Hydration on the Viscoelastic Properties of Soft Tissues, Pain and Mobility of Patients
Low Back Pain (LBP), Fascial Manipulation
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Low Back Pain and Functional Reach, run by Ilayda Dilan Isik at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact İlayda Dilan Işık, MsC (+905305239711, ilayda_dilan06@hotmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Severity of back pain (time frame: It will only be evaluated once.). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07474610, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jul 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 4 Nov 2026.